Giant Fireball, Brisbane, 7:12pm

[von Tom (Tom)]

Did anyone else see the fireball east of Brisbane last night? I saw it as it came into the field of view whilst driving through Manly West, about 25 degrees up and approx bearing 120 degrees. It was pure white with surface brightness much brighter than that of the Moon. It broke up into pieces which looked like sparks or fireworks.


I couln't see any reference stars or trail as the streetlights were quite bright.

Tom

[Shark Bait (Stu)]

Lucky observation. I'm jealous.

Years ago I was on my motorcycle riding to work and waiting at some lights near Eatons Hill. A daylight visible fireball streaked across my field of view. Intense light and a trail of smoke. Hollywood could not have done a better job with CG. It got every drivers attention and made 7 News that night.

To date it is still the most spectacular object I have seen in the sky. I'd hope to see another soon.

[hotspur (Chris)]

Originally Posted by von Tom

Did anyone else see the fireball east of Brisbane last night? I saw it as it came into the field of view whilst driving through Manly West, about 25 degrees up and approx bearing 120 degrees. It was pure white with surface brightness much brighter than that of the Moon. It broke up into pieces which looked like sparks or fireworks.


I couln't see any reference stars or trail as the streetlights were quite bright.

Tom

Yes Tom,had just come outside and was attending to scope in observatory,it was bright magnesium white/blue colour,about a hand span wide,at 7.11 pm-(by my mobile phone time) just slightly north of looking east.

It was so bright the walls of inside observatory lit up.Most spectacular-the brightest I have seen for a very long time,it broke up towards end,and those bit were orange-meant to post last night.

[Sirius1066 (Earl)]

I was at Astro Petes at Mt Gravatt at the time. I missed it myself, but both Pete and another guy got excited over a bright meteor. It was about that time and in the right part of the sky, so was probably the same one.

[Incendium]

Typical. I go to a wedding and miss all the excitement! :-)

Teale